THE current Hoops boss believes there's not much between the pair's national sides after Scotland and the Republic of Ireland were drawn alongside each other in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Lennon and Strachan lift the SPL title during their time together at Celtic

NEIL LENNON was supposed to be talking about his team’s visit to Pittodrie tonight.

And he did. Eventually.

Before that, though, he knew what was coming.

Strachan v O’Neill in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. The battle of the men he calls his mentors and the ONLY two people he believes he can call on for advice – because they’ve stood in his shoes as Celtic manager.

Lennon is clearly as excited as the rest of us and just as interested to see how it all pans out. Not that he was in the business of making predictions – he has known the managers of Scotland and Ireland long enough to realise that you write either of them off at your peril.

But he was fulsome in his praise of the roles they’ve played in allowing him to carve out a career as player and manager.

And despite the mutual respect that exists between O’Neill and Strachan, he knows they will be busting a gut to outdo each other.

Lennon said: “It’s probably two fixtures they could have done without because it will all be loaded up to be about the two of them.

“It’s set up for two cracking games and I’m glad I’m not managing – the pressure on both the guys will be huge.

“If the game is at Celtic Park it will be a big deal for the two of them. It will be special and the atmosphere will be fantastic.

“It will be like one of the European nights. It’s an added ingredient to what will be two important games.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot between the teams now and there will be plenty of comparisons between the two managers with them both being successful here.

“Martin had a huge influence on my career and I will always be indebted to him. In the last stages of my career, Gordon had a huge influence on me as well.

“Both are different in their approaches but I have tremendous respect for them. They are brilliant men and managers.

“Martin knows the game and studies it. He is very mentally strong.

“I owe Gordon a lot as well. He was good enough to ask me to come back to Celtic.

“I was there for a year and a bit under him and I learned a lot from how he approached games and training.

“They’re probably the only two men I can call for advice because they are the two who know better than anyone how to handle the job and what you are going to confront.

“They are always just a phone call away. They are pleased for me with the way things have gone.

“They should take something from it because they’ve had a huge influence on my career.”

O'Neill puts a consoling arm around Lennon

Asked to recall the best advice from each of them, Lennon answered: “Martin just said I should trust my instinct. I’ve had several conversations with Gordon because he comes to watch games and we chat on the phone or face to face.

“I remember seeing him on the day of the Scottish Cup Final last year and my stomach was churning. I asked him: ‘Do you go through the same thing?’ He said: ‘Absolutely,’ so I didn’t feel that I was a freak.

“You need those crumbs of comfort from them every now and again.”

Lennon’s immediate concern is tonight’s trip to Aberdeen where Celtic’s unbeaten league record is on the line against the team that knocked them out of the Scottish Cup.

He said: “Aberdeen are second, we are away from home and they are the only team to score against us in the last couple of months – and the only team to beat us as well. There is a freshness with the cup game being so recent.

“We get an early chance to rectify that. The clean sheet and unbeaten record can go at any time and this is the biggest test we may get.”

Lennon could be without Stefan Johansen and Leigh Griffiths, both of whom are struggling with knocks.

The Swede and the Scot have settled in quickly at Parkhead and Lennon believes Griffiths’ goal against Hearts on Saturday – his first for the club – was massive.

He added: “He scored a typical Griffiths goal. He’s a bit like Kris Commons – very little backlift but hits it with immense power. It was a great way to get up and running here and it was a relief for him as well.

“He knows the club and the environment. Sometimes they come in from a different culture and don’t really get it straight away. He got it straight away and you can see what it meant to score. We have high hopes for him.”

He also retains high hopes for Amido Balde and Teemu Pukki, who teamed up for the Finn to score the clincher at the weekend.

Lennon said: “We know they have the talent.

“There was plenty interest in both of them in January but we wanted to keep them here. They will play more of a part between now and the end of the season.

“I want to give Amido more game time but it’s difficult to get him in.”